"Clear case of cheating": Rudraprayag MLA Bharat Chaudhary on UKSSSC paper leak row

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 25 (ANI): The Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) exam paper leak case has sparked widespread outrage and protests across the state.
Rudraprayag MLA Bharat Chaudhary described the incident as a "clear case of cheating" rather than a paper leak, emphasising it was pre-planned and detrimental to Uttarakhand's youth.
In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Bharat Chaudhary said, "The irregularities reported in the graduate-level examination conducted by UKSSSC last Sunday should not be termed a paper leak, but rather a clear case of cheating. The entire incident was carried out in a pre-planned manner. The way the youth are being misled is not in the best interest of the state of Uttarakhand. Over the past three to four years, approximately 25,000 youth have secured government jobs in the state through a transparent process."
The UKSSSC graduate-level examination paper leak has sparked protests, with allegations of systemic failures and calls for a CBI investigation. Aspirants in Rudraprayag, Haridwar, and Dehradun protested, seeking the cancellation of the exam and a transparent inquiry; the Congress party also staged protests.
He further said that the state's leadership has demonstrated strong willpower by implementing a zero-tolerance policy and anti-cheating laws.
"The state's leadership has demonstrated strong willpower by implementing a zero-tolerance policy and anti-cheating laws. The authorities have vowed to take stringent action against anyone found guilty, regardless of their influence or identity, ensuring they face severe punishment to deter future offenses," he further said.
Reacting to the Kedarnath pilgrimage, he said that the pilgrimage faced disruptions due to adverse weather conditions but is now seeing an increase in visitors, with expectations of a full-scale pilgrimage by October.
Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed to probe the UKSSSC exam question paper leak case, adding that firm action will be taken based on the investigation.
He said the state's strict anti-cheating law has helped complete exams smoothly while over 100 cheating mafias have been arrested.
"We enacted the strictest anti-cheating law to punish the cheating mafia in our state. As a result, in four years, all exams were successfully completed, and 25,000 candidates secured government jobs... In 2022-23, we implemented the anti-cheating Law, and since then, we have worked to imprison over 100 cheating mafias... However, some people are trying to push the future of our youth into darkness... Everyone has seen how a cheating complaint at one location quickly led to chaos," Dhami said at the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Excellence Awards ceremony.
"If the exam question paper was leaked before the exam and someone had access to it, it was their duty to inform the police or authorities. Instead of doing so, they chose to discuss the issue on social media, revealing their real intention, which is to tarnish the reputation of the exam system. This incident was an attempt to discredit the process, rather than an actual paper leak... We have decided to establish the SIT. Based on the SIT investigation, we will take firm action. I want to clarify that our government will arrest and punish all cheating mafia members in the state...," Dhami added.
Uttarakhand Police has arrested Khalid Malik, the main accused in the UKSSSC exam question paper leak case. Police have also arrested his sister. (ANI)